Clinical Pastoral Education

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an action/reflection process of theological education grounded in a person-centered approach to spiritual ministry. The student's educational experience involves providing pastoral care to patients, families and staff as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.

In a diverse, multi-faith peer group and in consultation with ACPE Certified Educator or Associate Certified Educator, the student evaluates the effectiveness of his or her style of ministry in relation to the theological, cultural, socioeconomic, and psychosocial context of the persons to whom they offer spiritual care. Using the clinical method of learning with its action-reflection-action process, the student deepens self-awareness, pastoral authority, cultural humility, and ministerial skills. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education standards require a minimum of 100 hours of class time and 300 hours of clinical work per CPE Unit.

As a Level I trauma center with the region’s only children’s hospitals, and one of the largest hospitals in Kansas, Wesley Medical Center offers a rich clinical context in which CPE Residents and Interns participate as active members of the interdisciplinary care team.

Chaplain residents and interns are fully integrated into Wesley’ Pastoral Care and Education Department. Working closely with an ACPE Certified Educator a committed team of APC Board Certified Chaplains who serve as colleagues and mentors. Chaplain residents and interns provide consistent and high quality spiritual care in a complex and demanding clinical environment. CPE at Wesley Medical Center is dynamic, challenging, and potentially life changing.

• Admission to clinical pastoral education
• Clinical Pastoral Education program annual FERPA notice 
• ACPE application